Min-jae Kwak explained

Min-jae Kwak
Birth Date:25 August 2000
Birth Place:Suwon, South Korea
Position:Winger, Left-back
Currentclub:Chattanooga FC
Clubnumber:18
Youthclubs1:South Bay Force
Youthyears2:2012–2014
Youthclubs2:Strikers FC Academy
Youthyears3:2015–2017
Youthclubs3:Pateadores Academy
Youthyears4:2017–2018
Youthclubs4:Sporting Arsenal
Youthyears5:2018–2019
Youthclubs5:Strikers FC Academy
Youthyears6:2019–2020
Youthclubs6:HNK Gorica
Years1:2019
Clubs1:TNT FC
Years2:2020–2021
Clubs2:California United Strikers FC
Caps2:20
Goals2:4
Years3:2022
Clubs3:AC Syracuse Pulse
Caps3:20
Goals3:4
Years4:2023
Clubs4:Vancouver FC
Caps4:25
Goals4:1
Years5:2024–
Clubs5:Chattanooga FC
Caps5:10
Goals5:0
Club-Update:August 11, 2024

Min-jae Kwak (born 25 August 2000) is a South Korean footballer who plays for Chattanooga FC in MLS Next Pro.

Early life

Born in South Korea, Kwak lived in Fiji for eight months,[1] before moving to the United States at age 12, moving to Orange County, California.[2] Shortly after arriving in the United States, he was invited to trial with the LA Galaxy academy, but did not make the program.[3] He began playing with South Bay Force before moving to the Strikers FC Academy, before moving to Pateadores Academy, Sporting Arsenal, before returning to Strikers Academy.[4]

In September 2019, he joined the youth side of Croatian club HNK Gorica, after having participated in a camp for South Korean players with the club.[5] [6] [7] He scored in a exhibition game with the first team against Lekenik FC.[8]

Club career

In 2019, he played with South Korean side TNT FC.[9]

In September 2020, he signed with National Independent Soccer Association club California United Strikers FC, after having trained with the club since January.[10] In March 2022, he joined another NISA club, AC Syracuse Pulse. That season, he was named to the NISA Best XI, after having scored four goals and adding an assist.[11] [12]

In March 2023, he signed with Vancouver FC in the Canadian Premier League,[13] [14] becoming the second Korean-born player to play in the CPL.[15] With Vancouver, he was converted by head coach Afshin Ghotbi, who was an assistant coach with the South Korea national team at the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cups, to play left-back. In May 2023, he was named to the CPL Team of the Week for the first time, after helping his team earn a clean sheet in their match that week.[16] He scored his first goal on June 2 against Pacific FC.[17]

In March 2024, he signed with Chattanooga FC in MLS Next Pro.[18]

Career statistics

ClubSeasonLeaguePlayoffsNational CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
California United Strikers FC2020–21NISA303060
2021174??174
Total204000030234
AC Syracuse Pulse2022NISA2041010224
Vancouver FC2023Canadian Premier League25110261
Chattanooga FC2024MLS Next Pro1000000100
Career total759102030819

Notes and References

  1. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20221206113359/https://nisasoccer.com/roster/minjae-kwak. Minjae Kwak NISA profile. December 6, 2022. dead. National Independent Soccer Association.
  2. Web site: Rooted in the Community: Min-jae Kwak found a second home in Vancouver. October 12, 2023. Vancouver FC.
  3. Web site: Minjae Kwak, industrious and tenacious. May 2, 2023. Vancouver FC. David. Nava.
  4. 1546601908500156416. July 11, 2022. Player Spotlight Series Minjae Kwak. saltcityunion.
  5. Web site: Korejski talenti u juniorima: Kwak i Kang, dobrodošli u Goricu!. Korean junior talents: Kwak and Kang, welcome to Gorica!. Marko. Vidalina. City Portal. Croatian. 9 September 2019.
  6. Web site: I Korejci potpisali za Goricu. The Koreans also signed for Gorica. 10 September 2019. Croatian. VG Danas. Damir. Žbulj.
  7. Web site: Južnokoreanci Kwak i Kang novi članovi Gorice. South Koreans Kwak and Kang are new members of Gorica. Croatian. 10 September 2019. Kronike Velike Gorice. Goran. Klobučarić.
  8. Web site: Gorica uveličala proslavu 90 godina Lekenika. Gorica magnified the celebration of 90 years of Lekenik. Croatian. September 18, 2019. Kronike Velike Gorice. Goran. Klobučarić.
  9. Web site: 올해 최대 20명의 선수를 해외 프로구단에 입단시키는게 목표입니다. The goal is to recruit up to 20 players to overseas professional teams this year. March 14, 2022. 8층 풋살장 아저씨.
  10. Web site: California United Strikers announce signing Minjae Kwak. Diane. Scavuzzo. September 3, 2020. Soccer Today.
  11. Web site: NISA Announces 2022 Best XI. National Independent Soccer Association. November 16, 2022.
  12. Web site: Experience from around the globe added to new pro soccer team in Langley. March 13, 2023. Langley Advance Times.
  13. Web site: Vancouver FC Adds Wingers Nicky Gyimah And Min-Jae Kwak. March 8, 2023. Northern Tribune. John. Jacques.
  14. Web site: Vancouver FC signs two pacey international wingers. March 8, 2023. Total Soccer News.
  15. Web site: Vancouver FC add international wingers Nicky Gyimah and Min-jae Kwak. March 8, 2023. Canadian Premier League.
  16. Web site: Vancouver FC's Minjae Kwak and Tyler Crawford named to week 6 CPL Team of the Week. May 23, 2023. Vancouver FC. David. Nava.
  17. Web site: Highlights:Vancouver FC vs. Pacific FC (June 2, 2023). Alexandre. Gangué-Ruzic. OneSoccer.
  18. Web site: Chattanooga Football Club signs Minjae Kwak. March 25, 2024. Chattanooga FC.